Here is a Fort Wilderness Campground Resort Review from my friend Erin.
I grew up going to Walt Disney World- every year in the fall, we’d be checked out of school early and off we’d go to Florida. Some of my best memories were made in Disney, memories that I am reliving now that I have kids of my own.
We always stayed at Fort Wilderness campground for about a week, and only went to the parks 2 or 3 of the days while we were there. The rest of the time, we spent doing all the free fun things that Disney had to offer!
We loved riding our bikes around the campground and making friends. The playgrounds were fun and unique, and the beach was open for exploration. We could spend hours building a sandcastle if we wanted. We also loved going in all the stores since each one was slightly different. At night time, we were able to go to the campground sing-a-long, campfire, and movie.
Other days, we’d take the buses or boats to the different resorts and walk around the hotels. It was fun to check out all the different restaurants, game rooms, beaches, pools, and other facilities that the hotels offered. We also enjoyed just riding the monorail and ferryboats all over Disney World. We would also usually take one evening to spend at Downtown Disney – so many fun things to do there! While we were out, we’d make a competition of finding the “hidden mickeys”, which are everywhere!
When we went to Walt Disney World this past November, we stayed for 5 nights and spent just 2 of them in the parks. The rest of the time, we ventured to explore all the freebies that Disney has to offer. Where else can you ride a monorail all day! My kids (age 6, 3, and 3 months at the time) had the time of their lives and enjoyed the free parts of Disney World. We were also able to plan to be at certain places to see the evening fireworks, and the water parade, without all the crowds at the parks. The kids weren’t overwhelmed or exhausted and we were actually able to relax and enjoy our vacation.
Walt Disney World is a magical world in itself, outside of the parks. Many people do not take the time to enjoy it! My suggestion is to go to Disney and plan a few days to just explore! You never know what you may find to fill your time.
If you are traveling to Walt Disney World with kids, don’t forget to childproof your resort room.
Erin blogs at Mommy Octopus where she teaches others how to coupon and also homeschools her 3 children.
Learn more about the Walt Disney World Resorts and contact Destinations in Florida to help you book your perfect resort.
This is great info, I am planning on trying to go December 2011 and we are thinking of going for 2 weeks so we can do everything. We do more of big vacation were we try to cram everything into, so we can go somewhere else the next year. But we had problem this last time that if we finished what we had planned to do we couldn’t afford to do something else. Thank you for the Ideas, the cabin idea also sounds good to me, we might be going with a big group next time.
Thanks for letting everyone know that Disney World is so much more than just the 4 theme parks. I frequently am asked “Why do you keep going back to Disney World?” That, as you know, is an easy question to answer. You just can’t run out of things to do. We have been to other vacation venues over the years, but have always come home a little under whelmed. No where else does it like Disney!
One of the things I’ve learned at Disney, with my kids, is that up until age 10, all the transportation at Disney is a ride. Who needs the parks when you can do Monorails, busses and boats? We love to take the Moorail to Epcot.
I remember once on a bus through Fort Wilderness, the bus driver stopped so that everyone on board could see or get a good picture of a peacock walking down the road. The kids talked about it all day.
And you have to love the boat ride from Port Orleans Riverside to Downtown Disney. Man, I need to go back!
Great advice! Thank you.
I absolutely LOVE Fort Wilderness. I have been there many times with my family and we have the best time. There is so much to do there. We have a travel trailer and we always bring our bikes and ride around the park. My son gets so excited in the evening because he knows that the campfire sing-a-long is getting ready to start. And to lay on a blanket under the stars and watch a Disney movie on the big screen with my family is priceless.
Sounds like our first trip with the kids. We stayed at the campground and only went to the park 3 days. We loved just walking around the campground and the campfire sing-a-long!
Oh, goodness, this is so close to the way I grew up doing Disney with my family that I could have written it! We have a motor home and love Fort Wilderness. My parents still talk about the Hoop-Dee-Do Review and they’re in their sixties!
Great tips. We going in November and i want to see the other resorts :)
This sounds like a lot of fun! Don’t forget that there’s also outlet malls and great parks in Orlando!
HeidiR
Fort Wilderness has some great cabins. My brother stays there when he goes with his in-laws as there are too many of them for 1 hotel room. They said it’s great as they have a kitchen and everthing so they save a lot on food by staying there.
I am reading this post from the Polynesian beach waiting for the fireworks to start. We came up for the weekend just to enjoy the restaurants and the hotels. We have had an awesome time just hanging out.
What a fantastic post! Great ideas and lots of fun, FREE, things to do. We plan to take a few days when we go to just relax and check out the other resorts. Thanks for the wonderful tips!
can you elaborate on the freebies that Disney has to offer? We’re going for a week in May 2011 – my kids will be 7 & 4 – and we plan on staying for a week but only going to the Parks 4 days. I’d love some suggestions :)
Sounds great!
Fort Wilderness sounds like fun. I would love to try it, but my husband would never go for this. So we just stay at a value resort.